Paper-cutter.



A. S. KALENBORN.

PAPER CUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED 0013,1913

1 1331 1411144? PatentedMar. 9, 1915.

WWW S. WENJBOW, 01!! SAN TMNGISCO, GALIT'QRNIA.

PAPER-CUTTER.

Marita.

tpccltcatton of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, TWLH...

application Wed October 3, 19m. Serial No. roaoea.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Aaron S. KALnNnonN, a citizen of the United States,'residing at the city of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Cutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates'to cutters and more particularly to the type of cutter which is adapted for opening envelops, newspaper wrappers, rolls of tracing linen, oil cloth and the like. The cutters heretofore used for this purpose generally consist of an elongated blade having a cutting edge, more or less sharp extending .thiiiughout' its length. In operating such a cutter the point ofthe blade is passed under the edge of the envelop or wrapper and intothe package a short distance, after which, in the case of an envelop, it is swung at an angle to the line of the intended cut and is then carried along until the edge of the envelop has been cut entirely across by contact with that portion of the blade against which it may be driven. By thus swinging the blade to its cutting angle its point is directed into the contents of the envelop and often catches under a fold therein and cuts through the contents as well as across the envelop. In the case of a newspaper wrapper or rolls pf tracing linen and the like it is difficult to swing the blade at an angle to the line of cut, because the contents of the wrapper is so tightly compressed therebythat the blade can only occupy a parallel relation with the wrapper and its contents. The result is that in open-. ing such a wrapper the point of the blade is inserted only a short distance under the edge of the wrapper and is then lifted to make a partial cut, after which the blade'is again introduced and the cut lengthened; this process is repeated a number of times depending upon the length of the wrapper. It is obvious therefore that a cutter which can be introduced under the edge of the envelop or wrapper and caused to cut the envelop or wrapper from end to end while maintaining a parallel relation with the line of cut and with a single sweep or motion, is a desirable thing, for by this means the contents of the envelop is never injured and the rapidity and facility with which either theenvelop or the wrapper can be severed is increased.

To attain these objects my inventionconthe base of the blade.

sists of a paper cutter comprising an elongated pointed rod or leader provided with a suitable handle at its rear end or heel, 1n combination with a cutting blade located at the heel of the leader and arranged with its cutting'edge at an angle thereto whereby, while the leader maintains a parallel relation with the edge of the paper which 1s to be cut, the angular blade will trail at the end of the leader and will cut through the wrapper as long as the device is pushed forward.

The invention also includes details of construction which will be hereinafter specifically referred to.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of my improved cutter showing it in the operation of cutting through an envelop; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the cutting blade.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the cutter is formed from a length of brass rod or other suitable material, which is straight for a considerable portion of its length to form a leader or guide 1. This leader is pointed at its free end 2, so that it may be readily inserted beneath the mate rial which it is desired to cut, or between the flap and body of an envelop. The remaining or rear portion of the rod is bent to form a loop-shaped handle 3. The portion 1 of, this handle which is adjacent the rear end of the leader 1 is spaced therefrom and is connected to the leader by a part 5 reversely curved to the remaining portion of the handle. This part 5 and the portion of the leader adjacent thereto, are slotted as at 6, to receive a removable cutting blade 7. As shown in Fig. 3, this cutting blade is a thin, flat, triangularly shaped plate with one of its sides sharpened to a cutting edge and its other sides shaped to conform to the shape of the part 5 of the handle and the adjacent endof the leader.

/Vhen this blade is seated in the slots 6 its cutting edge extends above and at an angle to the leader, the blade being held firmly in position by a pin 8 driven through the leader, which pin engages in a recess 9 formed in the edge of Contrary to the usual form of blade of a paper cutter, the leader or guide 1 is formed with a smooth, preferably cylindrical, surface having no cutting edges and is adapted to act merely as a guide to hold the cutting edge of the blade to the material to be severed and prevent its diserligagement therewith until the cut is comp etc.

To use the cutter, the leader or guide 1 is inserted beneath the material to be severed or in the flap of the envelop as illustrated, and pressure exerted on the handle to hold the guide or leader throughout its length against the under side of the surface of the material to be severed. While thus held the handle is given one continuous sweep, the leader moving in a longitudinal direction parallel to the surface of the material to be severed. This will bring the cutting edge of the blade which is arranged at an angle to the leader, into contact with the material or, as illustrated, with the edge of the envelop, and the envelop will be opend for its entire length.

The form of paper cutter disclosed also has a special application for removing the wrappers from papers, magazines and the like. When used for this purpose, the leader is inserted beneath the wrapper, the contents forming a bearing which will press the leader against the under surface of the wrapper so that it is merely necessary to move the cutter along longitudinally and the cutting edge will 'be maintained in contact with the wrapper for the entire length of the cut. The shaping of the loop-shaped handle, so that its side 4' will overhang the cutting edge of the blade, is for the purpose of providing a guard to prevent injury to any one who may handle the cutter.

While I have shown a form of cutter which is preferable owing to its simplicity and cheapness of construction, yet it is not my intention to limit myself to this specific embodiment of my invention, as I regard the essential feature of the same to reside in a cutter comprising a leader and a cutting blade which leader is not adapted to sever or cut the material, but which merely serves to maintain the cutting blade in contact with the material.

Having described my invention, I claim.

1. A cutter of the class described com rising a leader consisting of a relatively ong rod having no cutting edges, a handle at the rear end of said rod, a relatively short cuttincgl blade arranged at the rear of said lea er, said handle extending over the cutting edge of said blade and serving as a guard therefor.

2. A cutter'of the class described comprising a rod having one portion thereof straight and pointed to form a relatively lon leader having no cutting edges, and havmg the other portion of said rod curved to form a loop-shaped handle, and a relatively short cutting blade arranged to the rear of said leader, said blade having its cutting edge extending at an angle to said leader.

3.'A cutter of the class described, comprising a leader consisting of a relatively long straight pointed rod having no cutting edges, a handle at the rear end of the rod, and a relatively short cutting blade at the rear end of the rod, and arranged with its edges at an angle to said rod.

4. A cutter of the class described comprising a leader consisting of a relatively long straight pointed rod having no cutting edges and adapted to be inserted beneath the material to be severed, a handle fastened to the rear end of said rod and being positioned on one side of said rod and adapted to extend above the material to be severed, and a relatively short cutting blade having its cutting edge at an obtuse angle to the main portion of the pointed rod, said blade being supported between the rod and handle.

In witness whereof, I subscrlbe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ARION S. KALENBORN.

Witnesses:

EUGENE P. JONES, G. S. DONELIN. 

